Space Foundation Names New VP

The Colorado Springs, Colo.-based Space Foundation is making meaningful personnel changes. It named a new vice president and four new directors to fill newly created and expanded positions. Jim Banke was promoted to vice president of Florida operations, and he retains his current role as director of the Coalition for Space Exploration. Banke will support the Space Foundation’s mission and customers on Florida’s Space Coast and throughout the region. As director of the Coalition for Space Exploration, he will help ensure the United States remains a leader in space, science and technology.

The new directors are Chris DeGrant, Mary Ann Bobko, Niki Moore, and Andy Roake. DeGrant is the new director of events and plans, and the principal logistics and plans manager for Space Foundation major events. Bobko joins the Space Foundation as director of marketing, and she will develop marketing strategy, targeted marketing programs, advertising and promotions, and overall brand management. Moore takes the reins as director of education development, responsible for researching and developing relationships with businesses, foundations, government and corporations. Roake assumes the role of director of media relations, developing, managing and executing the Space Foundation’s media-relations program. He recently retired from the U.S. Air Force as chief of media relations for Air Force Space Command at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo.

Founded in 1983, the Space Foundation is a national nonprofit organization that advances civil, commercial and national-security space endeavors and educational excellence.

(Andy Roake, Space Foundation, 719/576-8000)